Stoughton’s Lori McKenna makes history at Country Music Awards

Stoughton singer-songwriter Lori McKenna made history at this weekend’s 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards when she became the first woman to win the Songwriter of the Year trophy.

McKenna won for penning “Humble and Kind,” the smash Tim McGraw hit. In February, she also took home the Grammy Award for best country song. “Humble and Kind” won song of the year at the Country Music Awards in November and has been certified platinum.

McKenna’s other hits include Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” and “Your Side of the Bed” and Hunter Hayes’ “I Want Crazy.”

She also co-wrote the song “Keep Your Eyes on Me” for the faith-based film “The Shack,” with McGraw and his wife Faith Hill.

McKenna picked up the award Friday night in Las Vegas in a separate Academy of Country Music event at the Palms Resort and Casino.

“It’s an honor to be here and feel part of this community of writers and artists and the people who keep it all going. I can't thank you enough,” McKenna wrote on her Instagram.

A mother of five children ranging in age from 12 to 27, McKenna told the Patriot Ledger ahead of February’s Grammy Awards that “Humble and Kind” was inspired by her offspring.

“It’s just a list of things that I want them to know. They never listen to what I’m saying, so I figured that I’d write it down,” McKenna said.